Folding optical device such as binoculars

ABSTRACT

An optical device, preferably in the form of a pair of folding binoculars (10) includes a front support (12) with a first optical means in the form of a pair of front lenses (25). A second optical means in the form of a pair of rear lenses (27) are supported by a rear support (14). Both the front support (12) and the rear support (14) are pivotably mounted to a spacing means (16) extending between the front support (12) and the rear support (14). The supports (12,14) are pivotably mounted to the spacing means (16) about respective mounting edges (17,18). The supports (12,14) each have a free edge (20,22) located opposite the respective mounting edges (127,18), enabling the support (12,14) to be folded from an operative configuration to a storage configuration. The optical device (10) may also include a releasable holding means (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 39a, 39b) to hold the front support and the rear support in the operative configuration. The binoculars (10) may be constructed by integrally moulding the first pair of lenses (25) into the front support (12) and likewise, integrally moulding the second pair of lenses (27) into the rear support (14).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to at optical device such as binoculars.In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates tobinoculars of the type commonly known as field glasses or opera glassesto improve vision at sporting events and other public events in whichthe user is located some distance from the activity being observed.However, the invention is not restricted to binoculars and may beapplied to a simple telescope or to other optical devices.

BACKGROUND ART

Several binoculars of the folding type are known and one such type isdisclosed in Australian Patent Application No. 35049184. The binocularsare comprised or a front optical element and a rear optical elementconnected by a resilient structure which, when compressed, changes thefocus of the optical elements. The resilient structure includes an upperfolded wall extending from the top of the front optical element to thetop of the rear optical element and a lower folded wall extending fromthe bottom of the front optical element to the bottom of the rearoptical element. The structure also includes side panels. The entirestructure can be folded flat by folding the upper wall onto itself andby folding the lower wall onto itself such that the front opticalelement is disposed on top of the rear optical element.

The main difficulty in using these binoculars is that they are difficultto hold so as to maintain the front and rear optical elements at aconstant spacing. The resulting view for the user is one ofever-changing focus leading to poor vision and eye strain. Further, tofold the binoculars, the various walls and panels must be folded in aparticular sequence to arrive at the properly folded configuration. Thisis tedious. Thus the binoculars produce an unsatisfactory result and areawkward to use.

An advance over the binoculars described above is disclosed inAustralian Patent Application No. 72881/87 and similarly in U.S. Pat.No. 4,443,071. A one piece blank having a series of rectangular panelsincluding a front optical panel and a rear optical panel may beassembled to form a foldable binocular. However, these binoculars alsosuffer from the disadvantage that since they are made up of foldedparts, they are inclined to collapse onto themselves, making themdifficult to hold and operate. These binoculars also suffer from thedisadvantage that they are made up of a number of panels which must befolded in proper sequence about prescribed fold lines to disassemble thebinoculars. This is inconvenient.

Moreover, the binoculars disclosed in all of the above-mentionedapplications are designed to be constructed from thin semi-rigidmaterial such as cardboard which would have a short life expectancy andnot withstand wet conditions. Furthermore, the binoculars in theirfolded state have an appreciable amount of overlapping of the panels andas such the resulting foldable binoculars could tend to be bulky and notvery flat.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved optical device which overcomes or ameliorates theabove-mentioned disadvantages.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an optical device including: a front support including a firstoptical means; a rear support including a second optical means; aspacing means extending between the front support and the rear support;the front support and the rear support having respective mounting edges,and being pivotably mounted to the spacing means at their respectivemounting edges, each of the front support and the rear support having afree edge located opposite to the mounting edge, the front support andthe rear support being foldable between a storage configuration and anoperative configuration in which the first optical means and the secondoptical means are in substantial alignment.

Preferably, the spacing means will set the front and rear supports at afixed distance relative to each other when they are in the operativeconfiguration. Thus it is preferred that the spacing means is in theform of one or more substantially inflexible or rigid members extendingbetween the front and rear supports. Such member(s) preferably define acommon plane so that the device is compact and flat when the front andrear supports are folded into the storage configuration. In a preferredform of the invention, the spacing means is substantially continuous.For example, the spacing means may be in the form of a rectangularsheet-like or plate-like panel with the front and rear supports mountedat opposite side edges thereof. Having the spacing means in the form ofa panel allows advertising material such as corporate sponsorship to bedisplayed on one or both sides thereof.

Preferably, the front and rear supports are also substantiallyrectangular and hingedly connected to the spacing means at theirrespective mounting edges. The rear support may include a pair of eyepieces such as a simple ocular lens and the front support may include apair of objective lenses. The arrangement results in binoculars intendedto operate according to the principal of a Galilean telescope providingapproximately four times magnification. Suitably, the dimensions of thespacing means are such that the front and rear supports are set at afixed spacing enabling operation as Galilean binoculars. The requiredspacing between the front and rear lenses is dependant on the curvatureof the lenses. However, the invention is not restricted to operateaccording to the principle of a Galilean telescope and as such, thefront and rear supports may include lens arrangements more complex thanthose described above.

Preferably the lenses in the front and rear supports are set to astandard pupil distance. The lenses may be moulded into the supportsproviding a permanent fixture for the lenses. According to a preferredembodiment of the invention, the lenses are integrally moulded with thefront and rear supports to simplify the manufacturing process. Forexample, each support with its lenses may be molded from acrylic plasticin a single operation, with the portions surrounding the lenses beingfrosted.

Preferably, the sum of the maximum width of the front support from itsmounting edge to its free edge and the maximum width of the rear supportfrom its mounting edge to its free edge is less than the dimension ofthe spacing means between the front support mounting and the rearsupport mounting such that in the storage configuration, the frontsupport and the rear support lie substantially against the spacing meansin a common plane.

This arrangement wherein the front and rear supports fold flat againstthe spacing means will result in the optical device being substantiallyplanar in the storage configuration and thus convenient for the user tocarry. Preferably, each of the front and rear supports are approximatelyhalf the width of the spacing means between the mounting of the frontand rear supports such that the free edges of the front and rearsupports meet in the centre when in the storage configuration. The freeedges of the front and rear supports may be of a complementary shape.For example, the free edge of the rear support may be provided with arebated portion to accommodate the user's nose in use. Accordingly, acomplementary protrusion may be provided along the free edge of thefront support. A retention means may also be provided to releasably holdthe front and rear supports in the storage configuration.

The mounting between the supports and the spacing means may be by way ofa hinged connection. Alternatively, a flexible member may subsistbetween the spacing means and the supports to provide a hingedconnection in the form of a leaf hinge. In the operative configuration,it is preferred that the supports extend perpendicularly to the spacingmeans. However, other angles slightly inclined to the perpendicular mayalso be acceptable. In one form of the invention, the supports rotatethrough ninety degrees from their storage configuration to theiroperative configuration. Alternatively, the front and rear supports mayhinge through 270 degrees from their storage configuration to theiroperative configuration. In any case, a preferred arrangement is thatthe supports are adapted to swing into the operative positions such thatthey are dependant from the spacing means in use. This reduces theamount of sunlight entering the binoculars between the front and rearpanels.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an optical device including:

a front support including a first optical means;

a rear support including a second optical means;

a spacing means extending between the front support and the rearsupport;

the front support and the rear support being pivotably mounted to thespacing means and foldable between a storage configuration and anoperative configuration in which the first optical means are insubstantial alignment with the second optical means; and

further including a releasable holding means associated with each of thefront support and the rear support to hold the front support and therear support in the operative configuration.

The releasable holding means may be manually effected or the supportsmay be automatically retained in the operative position by a snapfitting. This snap fitting may be incorporated into the hinge. Limitmeans may also be provided to define the operative configuration of thesupports.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided binoculars including:

a first pair of lenses provided in a front support;

a second pair of lenses provided in a rear support;

the front support and the rear support being constructed of plasticmaterial wherein the first pair of lenses are integrally moulded withthe front support and the second pair of lenses are integrally mouldedwith the rear support.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of making binoculars having a first pair of lensesprovided in a front support and a second pair of lenses provided in arear support, the method comprising:

for each support, moulding the respective lenses at the same time as thesupport using the same material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodimentwill be described with reference to the figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a preferred embodimentof a pair of folding binoculars, shown in a storage configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the binoculars of FIG. 1 except shown inan operative configuration.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the binoculars shown in FIG. 1 exceptshown from above;

FIG. 4 is a part sectional view through a hinge of the binoculars shownin the operative configuration; and

FIG. 5 is a part sectional view through the hinge of FIG. 4 except shownin the storage configuration.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 2, the binoculars 10 comprise a front panel 12 and arear panel 14 hinged to opposite side edges of a rectangular spacingpanel 16. The proper orientation of the binoculars 10 in use is shown inFIG. 3. Reverting to FIG. 2, the spacing panel 16 has a rectangularshaped recess 15 centrally located on the underside of the spacing panel16 to reduce the amount of material required to mould the panel 16. Thespacing panel 16 is moulded from acrylic plastic. The front and rearpanels 12, 14 are substantially rectangular and are hinged at respectivemounting edges 17, 18 to the spacing panel 16. The front and rear panels12, 14 also have respective free edges 20, 22 located opposite to themounting edges 17, 18.

The front panel 12 is moulded from acrylic plastic and a pair ofobjective lenses 25 are integrally moulded therein. Similarly, a pair ofocular lenses 27 are integrally moulded into acrylic plastic comprisingthe rear panel 14.

The front and rear panels 12, 14 are hinged to the spacing panel 16 toallow for rotation from the operative configuration shown in FIG. 2,wherein the front and rear panels 12, 14 extend perpendicularly to thespacing panel 16, to the storage configuration shown in FIG. 1 whereinthe front and rear panels 12, 14 are folded flat against the spacingpanel 16. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the free edges 20, 22 of the frontand rear panels 12, 14 respectively, are complementary in shape. Therear panel 14 has a central rebated portion 30 which in use accommodatesthe user's nose. A complementary projection 32 provided on the frontpanel 12 is received by the rebated portion 30. This allows the frontand rear panels 12, 14 to fold neatly and flatly against the spacingpanel 16. In regard to the rebated portion 30, it is pointed out thatthe binoculars 10 are actually shown upside down in FIG. 2 ie. as can bemore easily appreciated from FIG. 3, the rebated portion 30 would reston the user's nose.

FIG. 1 also shows releasable holding means for releasably supporting thefront and rear panels 12, 14 in the operative configuration. Thereleasable holding means are in the form of block-shaped projections 35,36, 37, 38. The block-shaped projections 35, 36, 37, 38 each have aninwardly facing engagement surface 39. The front and rear panels 12, 14have cut-outs 39a complementary in shape to the block-shapedprojections, the cut-outs 39a being located at each end of the mountingedges 17, 18. The cut-outs 39a each define an outwardly facingengagement surface 39b which frictionally engages with the engagementsurface 39 of the associated block-shaped projection 35, 36, 37, 38. Thefront and rear panels 12, 14 will be maintained in the operativeconfiguration by this frictional engagement.

The spacing panel 16 also has semi-circular rebated portions 40, 42 toallow handling and manipulation of the front and rear panels 12, 14.Retention means are also provided to releasably hold the binoculars 10in the storage configuration. As most clearly seen from FIG. 3, a pairof projections 43, 44 is also provided on each end of the free edges 20,22, one on the front panel 12 and the other on the rear panel 14. Eachof these projections is shaped as a quarter segment and each pairtogether fills one of the semi-circular rebated portions 40, 42. Thearcuate edge of each projection 43, 44 frictionally engages with aportion of the arcuate edge of the associated rebated portion 40, 42 tohold the front and rear panels 12, 14 in the storage configuration.

The spacing panel 16 is also provided with niches 45, 46 located atopposite ends of the spacing panel 16 adjacent the front panel 12. Theniches 45, 46 locate the knotted ends of a cord or tie 48 (see FIGS. 1and 2) which in use extends around the user's neck.

FIG. 3 most clearly illustrates the nature of the hinged connectionsbetween the front and rear panels 12, 14 and the spacing panel 16. Eachof the front and rear panels 12, 14 are pivotably connected to thespacing panel 16 by a pair of hinges 55. Each hinge 55 is made up of anL-shaped portion 57 extending from the front panel 12 or the rear panel14, the L-shaped portion 57 being received in a cut-out 59 provided inthe spacing panel 16. The L-shaped portion 57 is comprised of a firstleg 61 extending at right angles to the plane of the front or rear panel12, 14 and a second leg 63 extending outwardly from the front or rearpanel 12, 14 (see FIG. 1 also). At the knee of the L-shaped portion 57,are two cylindrical projections 65, one on each side of the L-shapedportion 57. The two cylindrical projections define a hinge pin.

Each cylindrical projection 65 is received within a channel 67 definedin the spacing member 16. Each channel is U-shaped to reduce stressconcentration at the region surrounding the channel. The spacing portion16 also has increased thickness in the vicinity of each channel 67.

It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the second leg 63 of the L-shapedportion 57 sits flush with the edge of the spacing panel 16 when thebinoculars 10 are in the storage configuration. As shown in FIG. 2, inthe operative configurations the first leg 61 of the L-shaped portion 57is substantially flush with the edge of the spacing panel 16.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are part cross-sectional views through the spacing panel16 at the location of the channel 67. For the purposes of explanation,it is assumed that the cross-section is taken through one of the hinges55 connecting the front panel 12 to the spacing panel 16. FIGS. 4 and 5also illustrate the first leg 61 and the second leg 63 of the L-shapedprojection 57. It can be seen from the cross-sectional view that theside walls of the channel 67 define a region of reduced internaldimension slightly spaced from the inner side of the spacing panel 16.To assemble the front panel 12 and the spacing panel 16, the cylindricalprojection defining part of the hinge pin must be pushed past thisregion of reduced internal dimension whereupon the cylindricalprojection 65 will be held within the channel 67. The front panel 12 isassembled with the spacing panel 16 when the front panel liessubstantially flat against the spacing panel 16 as shown in FIG. 5.

Extending further from the second leg 63 of the L-shaped projection 57is a limit projection 70 extending perpendicularly to the second leg 63and therefore perpendicularly to the front panel 12. The outer side ofthe spacing panel 16 at the region of increased thickness also defines astop member 72. The projection 70 engages with the stop member 72 in theoperative configuration of the front panel 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Theengagement of the projection 70 and the stop member 72, therefore limitsthe movement of the front panel 12 away from the spacing panel 16 andthus defines the operative configuration of the front panel 12. In asimilar manner, projections 70 and stop members 72 are also provided todefine the limit of movement for the rear panel 14. From FIG. 4, it canalso be seen that the side surface of the front panel 12 at the mountingedge 18 sits squarely on the facing surface of the spacing panel 16.This provides additional support for the front panel 12 in the operativeconfiguration. A similar arrangement is provided to support the rearpanel 14.

The external surfaces of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14,except the lenses have a frosted finish. This can be achieved byproviding a rough surface on the interior of the moulding die. Thespacing panel 16 also has a frosted exterior surface, except for acentral rectangular region 75 provided on the outer side of the spacingpanel 16 opposite to the side on which the front and rear panels 12, 14are mounted. This rectangular region 75 is smooth to allow advertisingmaterial to be adhered thereto.

We claim:
 1. An optical device comprising:a front support including afirst optical means; a rear support including a second optical means; aspacing means extending between the front support and the rear support;the front support and the rear support having respective mounting edges,and being pivotably mounted to the spacing means at their respectivemounting edges; each of the front support and rear support having a freeedge located opposite to the mounting edge, the front support and therear support being foldable between a storage configuration and anoperative configuration in which the first optical means and the secondoptical means are in substantial alignment, the sum of the maximum widthof the front support from its mounting edge to its free edge and themaximum width of the rear support from its mounting edge to its freeedge is less than the dimension of the spacing means between themounting of the front support and the mounting of the rear support suchthat in the storage configuration, the front support and the rearsupport lie substantially against the spacing means in a common planeand the free edge of the front support is slightly spaced from the freeedge of the rear support, said free edges being complementary in shape.2. The optical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the free edge of therear support includes a rebated portion and the free edge of the frontsupport includes a protrusion complementary to the rebated portion. 3.The optical device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical meanscomprise a first pair of lenses and the second optical means comprise asecond pair of lenses, the spacing means adapted to hold the frontsupport and the rear support at a fixed spacing such that the opticaldevice is operable as Galilean binoculars.
 4. The optical device asclaimed in claim 3 wherein the spacing means is substantially rigid. 5.The optical device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spacing meanscomprises a rectangular panel.
 6. The optical device as claimed in claim1 in which a releasable holding means is associated with each of thefront support and the rear support to hold the front support and therear support in the operative configuration.
 7. The optical device asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the first optical means is integrally mouldedwith the front support and the second optical means is integrallymoulded with the rear support.
 8. An optical device comprising:a frontsupport including a first optical means; a rear support including asecond optical means; a spacing means extending between the frontsupport and the rear support; the front support and the rear supportbeing pivotably mounted to the spacing means and foldable between astorage configuration and an operative configuration in which the firstoptical means are in substantial alignment with the second opticalmeans; and a releasable holding means associated with each of the frontsupport and the rear support to hold the front support and the rearsupport in the operative configuration, the front support and the rearsupport being pivotably mounted to the spacing means about respectivehinges, each of the hinges incorporating one of the releasable holdingmeans.
 9. The optical device as claimed in claim 8 wherein thereleasable holding means comprise a snap fitting.
 10. The optical deviceas claimed in claim 9 wherein each snap fitting comprises a protuberanceon the surface of the spacing means engageable with either the frontsupport or rear support as it moves between the storage configurationand the operative configuration.
 11. The optical device as claimed inclaim 8 further including a limit means associated with each of thefront support and the rear support to define the operative configurationthereof.
 12. The optical device as claimed in claim 11 wherein eachlimit means comprises a projection engageable with a stop member in theoperative configuration.
 13. The optical device as claimed in claim 12wherein the projection is provided on the front support or the rearsupport and the stop member is provided on the spacing means.
 14. Theoptical device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the front support and therear support have respective mounting edges at which they are pivotablymounted to the spacing member, the front support and the rear supportcomprising panels having a thickness to thereby define side surfaces atthe respective mounting edges, the pivotable mounting being such that inthe operative configuration, each of the side surfaces abuts a facingplanar surface disposed on the spacing means.
 15. The optical device asclaimed in claim 8 wherein the first optical means is integrally mouldedwith the front support and the second optical means is integrallymoulded with the rear support.
 16. An optical device comprising:a frontsupport including a first optical means; a rear support including asecond optical means; a spacing means extending between the frontsupport and the rear support; the front support and the rear supporthaving respective mounting edges, and being pivotably mounted to thespacing means at their respective mounting edges; each of the frontsupport and rear support having a free edge located opposite to themounting edge, the front support and the rear support being foldablebetween a storage configuration and an operative configuration in whichthe first optical means and the second optical means are in substantialalignment; wherein the first optical means are integrally molded withthe front support and/or the second optical means are integrally moldedwith the rear support; the sum of the maximum width of the front supportfrom its mounting edge to its free edge and the maximum width of therear support from its mounting edge to its free edge is less than thedimension of the spacing means between the mounting of the front supportand the mounting of the rear support such that in the storageconfiguration, the front support and the rear support lie substantiallyagainst the spacing means in a common plane and the free edge of thefront support is slightly spaced from the free edge of the rear support,said free edges being complementary in shape.
 17. Binocularscomprising:a first pair of lenses provided in a front support; a secondpair of lenses provided in a rear support; a spacing means extendingbetween the front support and the rear support; the front support andthe rear support being pivotably mounted to the spacing means andfoldable between a storage configuration and an operative configurationin which the first optical means are in substantial alignment with thesecond optical means; a releasable holding means associated with each ofthe front support and the rear support to hold the front support and therear support in the operative configuration, the front support and therear support being pivotably mounted to the spacing means aboutrespective hinges, each of the hinges incorporating one of thereleasable holding means; wherein the first pair of lenses is integrallymolded with the front support and the second pair of lenses isintegrally molded with the rear support.
 18. Binoculars as claimed inclaim 17 wherein the front support and the rear support together withtheir lenses are constructed from acrylic plastic.
 19. Binoculars asclaimed in claim 17 wherein portions of the front support and the rearsupport not including the lenses, are frosted.
 20. Binoculars as claimedin claim 17 wherein the front support and the rear support each comprisea rectangular panel.
 21. An optical device comprising:a front supportincluding a first optical means; a rear support including a secondoptical means; a spacing means extending between the front support andthe rear support; the front support and the rear support being pivotablymounted to the spacing means and foldable between a storageconfiguration and an operative configuration in which the first opticalmeans are in substantial alignment with the second optical means; areleasable holding means associated with each of the front support andthe rear support to hold the front support and the rear support in theoperative configuration; and a limit means associated with each of thefront support and the rear support to define the operative configurationthereof, wherein each limit means comprises a projection engageable witha stop member in the operative configuration, and wherein the projectionis provided on the front support or the rear support and the stop memberis provided on the spacing means.